Hontiveros urges ex-DBM exec Lao to name big boss behind Pharmally mess

Former officer-in-charge of the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (PS-DBM) Lloyd Christopher Lao attends the Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry on September 15, 2022 on the allegedly overpriced and outdated laptops procured by the Department of Education (DepEd) through the PS-DBM. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she hopes Lloyd Christopher Lao, the former Budget undersecretary tagged in the Pharmally mess, will finally name the “big boss” behind the corruption of Covid-19 pandemic response funds following his arrest in Davao City on Wednesday.

In a statement, Hontiveros said it is finally time for Lao to face his alleged crimes.

“Ngayong nasa kamay na siya ng batas, aminin na rin sana niya kung sino nga ba ang big boss na may pakana at nakinabang sa korapsyon sa bilyon-bilyong Covid-19 [pandemic response] funds,” she said.

(Now that he is already in the hands of the law, he should name the big boss and mastermind behind the corruption of billions-worth of Covid-19 pandemic response funds.)

READ: Ex-DBM exec tagged in Pharmally mess arrested for graft in Davao City

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a startup company with a paid-up capital of only P625,000, bagged more than P11.5 billion worth of government healthcare supply contracts at the height of the pandemic.

READ: Ombudsman suspends 33 execs in Pharmally mess

“Kailangang managot si Atty. Lao at ang mga kasabwat niya sa pang-aabuso at pagkamkam sa kaban ng bayan habang maraming Pilipino ang may sakit, nagugutom, at walang hanapbuhay noong kasagsagan ng Covid-19 pandemic,” Hontiveros said.

(Atty. Lao and his cohorts must be held accountable for abusing and pocketing public funds at a time when many Filipinos were sick, hungry, and jobless amid the Covid-19 pandemic.)

She also pointed out that Lao’s arrest only proves that everyone who misuses and abuses their public positions eventually serves “evil ends.”

Lao was arrested by the Philippine National Police’s criminal investigation and detection group through a Sandiganbayan first division’s arrest warrant dated Sept. 12.